"Muscle Pics", a new body-checking behavior in muscle dysmorphia?

The internalization of ideal hypermuscular body and pro-muscularity media's influence have shown their importance in muscle dysmorphia development. The aim of the current study is to have a better understanding of links between specific body checking behaviors and muscle dysmorphia in social network context.

In total, 342 students practicing weightlifting at the university gym in Bordeaux answered to a survey with sociodemographic information and body checking symptoms including taking specific selfies of muscles and muscularity "Muscle Pics" and the MDDI (Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory).

Muscle dysmorphia was prevalent in 18.7% of our population (64 students). We observed that muscle dysmorphia was correlated to "Muscle Pics", "Follow-up", "Message", "Selfie", and gym mirror checking with significant results (P<0.01). Also, « Muscle Pics » were linked to APEDs use, pro-muscularity websites, fitness model comparison and gym mirror checking (P<0.01). For muscle dysmorphia, "Muscle Pics" have strong predictive results (OR=5.10, P=0.000) and (OR=4.08, P=0.000) for adjusted. "Follow up" (OR=4.76, P=0.000) and (OR=3.83, P=0.000) for adjusted, "Muscle Pics Selfie" (OR=11.20, P=0.000) and (OR=11.55, P=0.000) for adjusted, "Muscle Pics Message" (OR=4.49, P=0.001) and (OR=5.78, P=0.001) for adjusted.

"Muscle Pics" showed several links with muscle dysmorphia for global score "drive for size", "functional impairment" but not for "appearance intolerance" dimension. Pro-muscularity websites, fitness model comparisons and gym mirror checking are linked to muscle dysmorphia and "Muscle Pics". Future research on "Muscle Pics" will help to provide a better understanding of muscle dysmorphia and its link with pro-muscularity influence websites.